Road Planning and Design Manual

2nd edition

Queensland Practice

July 2013
Copyright

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/

State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads) 2013

Feedback: Please send your feedback regarding this document to: mr.techdocs@tmr.qld.gov.au

Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) Introduction, Transport and Main Roads, July 2013
Foreword

Amendment Register

Issue / Reference
Description of revision Authorised by Date
Rev no. section
1 All Initial release of manual (2nd edition) Steering committee July 2013

Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) Introduction, Transport and Main Roads, July 2013 i
Foreword

Foreword

The purpose of the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads is to plan, manage and
oversee the delivery of a safe, efficient and integrated transport system that supports sustainable
economic, social and environmental outcomes in Queensland. (1)

Transport and Main Roads Engineering and Technology Branch provides central expertise and
leadership for the departments engineering and technical disciplines, to:

enable the department to be an informed manager of infrastructure use, and an informed

buyer of infrastructure and engineering services, while effectively supporting the delivery of
the infrastructure program and operating the road network;

ensure the department maintains an internal technical capability that is in line with its design,
construction and operational priorities; and

maintain and review specifications, standards and guidelines to ensure affordable and
sustainable technical solutions and value for money in delivery. (2)

The Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) addresses these goals by aiming to ensure that
all state road projects are designed in accordance with an agreed set of affordable standards that
include consideration of the specific circumstances.

The Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) provides the approved framework for the
planning and design of roads in Queensland, and it must be followed.

Competent planners and designers should apply the guidance of this manual in an intelligent way, to
develop solutions to meet the challenges of each project.

Engineering and Technology Branchs technical experts are available to advise on any aspect of this
manual and its application to local conditions. Please refer to the departments website for contact
details: www.tmr.qld.gov.au.

Chief Engineer, Department of Transport and Main Roads

Notes:

(1) Source: Transport and Main Roads website (www.tmr.qld.gov.au), April 2013

(2) Source: Our business direction, Transport and Main Roads, October 2012

Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) Introduction, Transport and Main Roads, July 2013 ii
Foreword

Contents

Introduction.............................................................................................................................................1
Structure of this edition and relationship to the Austroads Guide to Road Design ................................. 2
Initial release (July 2013)......................................................................................................................... 3
Other publications..................................................................................................................................5
Contacts ..................................................................................................................................................6

Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) Introduction, Transport and Main Roads, July 2013 iii
Introduction

Introduction

The Road Planning and Design Manual (RPDM) is Transport and Main Roads over-arching document
of policy, methodology and criteria for people engaged in the planning and design of roads in
Queensland. This manual aims to ensure that all road projects are built in accordance with an agreed
set of corporate standards that include considerations of local circumstances.

The Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) brings together a large amount of knowledge
from internal Transport and Main Roads manuals and external publications from Australia and other
countries. It cross-references other departmental manuals in preference to repeating information given
in them.

Designers should build a thorough understanding of the problem and its specific environment, then
apply judgement and experience to develop the most appropriate, affordable and defensible solution.

Generally, the Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) and Austroads Guide to Road Design,
together with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Queensland) provide sufficient guidance
for designers to undertake their routine work without continual reference to other documents.

When situations out of the ordinary are encountered, designers should seek more guidance by
consulting relevant Transport and Main Roads specialists and/or using the source documents listed
below, in order of priority:

1. other Transport and Main Roads specialist manuals (including the Manual of Uniform Traffic
Control Devices (Queensland)

2. other Austroads publications and Australian Standards

3. design guides (manuals) from other Australian states

4. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), A Policy on

Geometric Design of Highways and Streets

5. Lay, M.G. Handbook of Road Technology

6. Transportation Association of Canada, Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads

(especially the chapters on philosophy and design consistency)

7. Permanent International Association of Road Congresses (PIARC) documented standards,

particularly those relating to road safety and tunnels.

Other international design guides may be consulted where they address a particular issue in a more
comprehensive way than those in the list. Other references are provided throughout the Road
Planning and Design Manual and the Austroads guides. The Road Planning and Design Manual does
not address all the issues associated with the overall planning and design of the whole road. Transport
and Main Roads produces a number of other manuals to deal with other specialist areas (refer to
Table 1).

For Transport and Main Roads projects, non-compliance with this manual and other relevant
departmental guides is a design exception and should be processed accordingly.

The departments Engineering and Technology Branch is working to determine appropriate practice
for Queensland conditions and document it. This manual will be updated as the work progresses.

Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) Introduction, Transport and Main Roads, July 2013 1
Introduction

Structure of this edition and relationship to the Austroads Guide to Road Design
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has, in principle, agreed to adopt the standards
published in the Austroads Guide to Road Design. The Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd
edition) draws largely on relevant Austroads standards for its technical requirements.

For this reason, the structure of the Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) has been created
to assist readers in cross-referencing between documents.

This is a departure from the Road Planning and Design Manual (1st edition) in that 23 chapters have
now become 6 volumes. Volume 3 has 8 parts, which align with the 8 parts of the Austroads Guide
to Road Design. Figure 1 shows the structure of the Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition)
and its alignment to the Austroads series.

Transport and Main Roads seeks to eliminate duplication between the Road Planning and Design
Manual and the Austroads Guide to Road Design. In the interests of national uniformity, this manual
will ultimately only address aspects that are unique or important to Queensland practice which:

vary from national practice because of local environmental conditions (e.g. soil types, climate)

vary from national practice because of differing funding practices

take account of research by the department or other organisations, superseding that which is
recorded by Austroads

do not feature enough detail in the Austroads guides

satisfy local legislative requirements.

Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) Introduction, Transport and Main Roads, July 2013 2
Introduction

Figure 1: Structure of the Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) and relationship with
the Austroads guides

Initial release (July 2013)

The initial release of the Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) consists of minimalist
documents.

Volume 1 Legislation and Design Philosophy is a complete release of volume 1.

Volumes 2 to 6 are yet to undergo a full review to confirm the mapping of content from the Road
Planning and Design Manual (1st edition) against the Austroads Guide to Road Design, and whether
the Austroads criteria are fit-for-purpose in Queensland.

Volumes 2 to 6 therefore primarily reference or incorporate the content from:

Road Planning and Design Manual (1st edition) chapters

Interim Guide to Road Planning and Design Practice (May 2010)

Exceptions relating to the Austroads Guide to Road Design

Other Austroads guides and Transport and Main Roads manuals.

The Interim Guide to Road Planning and Design Practice (May 2010) is now withdrawn as its content
is fully included in this manual.

Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) Introduction, Transport and Main Roads, July 2013 3
Introduction

Figure 2 illustrates the framework of the Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) and the links
to similar content in the first edition and other publications.

Although further work is required to completely review all volumes, the Road Planning and Design
Manual (2nd edition) has been initially released in July 2013 to provide:

early availability of the completed material in Volume 1 Legislation and Design Philosophy

a framework that enables future releases of volumes and parts to be completed in a staged
manner without affecting other sections of the manual.

Figure 2: Framework of the Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) and links to similar
content in the 1st edition and other publications

Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) Introduction, Transport and Main Roads, July 2013 4
Other publications

Other publications

This manual forms part of a suite of publications that are useful in the planning and design of
Queensland state-controlled roads. The documents listed in Table 1 are available from the Transport
and Main Roads website: www.tmr.qld.gov.au or the Austroads online publications website:
www.onlinepublications.austroads.com.au.

Table 1: Other publications

Transport and Main Roads publications Austroads publications
Asset Management Guidelines Guide to Asset Management
Audio-Tactile Pedestrian Devices Policy Guide to Bridge Technology
Busway Planning and Design Manual Guide to Pavement Technology
Benefits Categorisation Framework (BCF) Guide to Project Delivery
Design Guide for Roadside Signs Guide to Project Evaluation
Drafting and Design Presentation Standards Manual Guide to Road Safety
Engineering Policy Directions and Guides Guide to Road Transport Planning
Environmental Management Policy and Strategy Guide to Road Tunnels
Fauna Sensitive Road Design Manual (Vols 1 & 2) Guide to Traffic Management
Guide to Pavement Markings
Guide to Risk Management
Guidelines for Assessment of Road Impacts of Development
Guidelines to Quality Systems in Infrastructure Delivery
Guidelines for Road Design on Brownfield Sites
Historical Cultural Heritage Manual
Indigenous Cultural Heritage Engagement and Monitoring
Payment Guidelines
Main Roads Specifications and Technical Standards
Main Roads Technical Notes
MUTCD (Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices)
OnQ Project Management Framework
Pavement Design Manual
Pavement Rehabilitation Manual
Planners and Designers Instructions
Policy on Managed Motorways
Preconstruction Processes Manual
Project Cost Estimating Manual
Community Engagement Policy, Principles, Standards and
Guidelines
Road Landscape Manual
Road Project Environmental Processes Manual
Road Safety Audit Policy
Road Traffic Noise Management Code of Practice
Road Traffic Air Quality Management Manual
Roads in Rainforests Manual
Roads in the Wet Tropics Manual
Roadside Advertising Guide
Roadside Conservation Policy
Standard Drawings Roads
Cycling Infrastructure Policy
TRUM (Traffic & Road Use Management) Manual

Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) Introduction, Transport and Main Roads, July 2013 5
Contacts

Contacts

Please direct enquiries about this manual to the relevant contact.

Volume / Part Unit Contact Telephone

Volume 1 - Legislation and Design Philosophy Road Design Dr Owen Arndt (07) 3066 8398
Volume 2 - Road Planning Guidelines Austroads
Volume 3 - Guide to Road Design Road Design Mandy Haldane (07) 3066 8241
Part 1: Introduction to Road Design Road Design Dr Owen Arndt (07) 3066 8398
Part 2: Design Considerations Road Design Dr Owen Arndt (07) 3066 8398
Part 3: Geometric Design Road Design Mandy Haldane (07) 3066 8241
Part 4: Intersections and Crossings General Road Design Mandy Haldane (07) 3066 8241
Part 4A: Unsignalised and Signalised Intersections Road Design Mandy Haldane (07) 3066 8241
Part 4B: Roundabouts Road Design Mandy Haldane (07) 3066 8241
Part 4C: Interchanges Road Design Mandy Haldane (07) 3066 8241
Part 5: Drainage Design Road Design Mike Whitehead (07) 3066 8241
Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety and Barriers Road Design Andrew Burbridge (07) 3066 8016
Part 6A: Pedestrian and Cyclists Paths Traffic Engineering & Data Mark McDonald (07) 3066 6494
Part 6B: Roadside Environment Road Design Mandy Haldane (07) 3066 8241
Part 7: Geotechnical Investigation and Design Geotechnical Lalith Welikala (07) 3066 7796
Part 8: Process and Documentation Road Design Bryan McSweeney (07) 3066 8600
Volume 4 - Road Tunnels Road Design Ricky Cox (07) 3066 8285
Volume 5 - Intelligent Transport Systems ITS & Electrical Noel Peters (07) 3066 5952
Volume 6 - Lighting ITS & Electrical Greg ODea (07) 3066 8168

Current as at July 2013

Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition) Introduction, Transport and Main Roads, July 2013 6